Labour have been returned to power but with a much lower majority. Let’s just hope that this will allow the other parties to stifle a move to a federal Europe (which I am still convinced will not be good for the UK as a whole), although the Lib Dems have increased the number of seat they have and this as a key policy for them, so only time will tell.

My own constituency of Braintree has moved from a Labour marginal majority of 358 to a Conservative majority of 3,893. This puts Essex Man (as the media dubbed him) firmly back as a darling of the Conservative party.

In case you haven’t seen it, by the way, it is well worth watching George Galloway vs. Jeremy Paxman over on the BBC website. A full transcript of which is available here. Paxman starts off badly and it just gets worse…watch it.

Popularity: 10% [?]

At 0705 this morning I left my local polling station having been the first to vote today. It was rather satisfying to hear my vote clunk into the empty ballot box.

The Braintree constituency was in the papers again this morning. I don’t know where someone came up with the second most marginal seat idea as according to the papers we are the sixth overall and the fourth most marginal Labour seat. The worst in the country? Cheadle which is currently Lib Dem and only has a majority of 33 votes (0.1%). That is pretty close.

Also in the news, I see that the statistics seem to show that the arguement for proportional representation could start up again. If you assume that the 4000 readers of the Metro newspaper who took part in the survey I was reading are representative of the country, then the results should be as follows:

• Liberal Democrats 27% (of which 37% are definately voting as such)
• Labour 22% (of which 43% are definately voting as such)
• Conservatives 18% (of which 51% are definately voting as such)
• Other 9%

What amazes me about these figures is that despite so many people saying that they are going to vote Lib Dem, only 2% of those polled thought that they would actually get into power and 87% think that Labour will get in for another term.
The Lib Dems have had this very problem for years. Despite most of the UK public seeing them as an alternative and saying that they will vote for them, when it comes down to it, nothing happens. It is worth noting that Charles Kennedy is also seen as the most honest of the main three party leaders.

Anyhow, went to the BBC News Election 2005 website and entered these figures into the Seat Calculator that they have there. The seats won results that came back were rather astonishing:

• Labour - 328
• Conservatives - 54
• Lib Dems - 232
• Other - 32

This would mean that according to the Metro poll, Labour would come to power with a 10 seat majority and the Lib Dems in strong opposition. Now that would be something to see in UK politics.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Well, Who should you vote for? have a new version of their poll up to help you decide who to vote for in the election this week. I thought I should have another go as my opinion on the Iraq war has worsened with all the reports over the last few weeks and, well, the questions have changed. I put my expected vote as Conservative as this the highest scoring of the three main parties last time. Here are my results:

Who should I vote for? v2

Your expected outcome:

Your actual outcome:

Labour -37
	Conservative 31
	Liberal Democrat 17
	UKIP 11
	Green 52

You should vote: Green

The Green Party, which is of course strong on environmental issues, takes a strong position on welfare issues, but was firmly against the war in Iraq. Other key concerns are cannabis, where the party takes a liberal line, and foxhunting, which unsurprisingly the Greens are firmly against. The Greens are also anti-Europe.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

Well, I was surprised to see the Lib Dems climb so much, but then again, they were and are very much anti-war. I was very surprised to see UKIP take such a tumble, but I guess they have made some more policy announcements that are reflected in this version. Not surprised to see the Greens so high as I always vote for them locally and will continue to do so.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Well, I’ve started getting a bit polical again. It all started when I got a UKIP leaflet through the door. I was all ready to bin it, but the Missus told me to stop and actually read it. I was shocked to discover that this was a party that actually held the same beliefs as me.

Incidentally, met the Conservative candidate outside the station on the way to work this morning - seems like a nice enough bloke. He’s a businessman and married with 5 kids so you would think he would probably know where I am coming from with regards to key issues such as taxation. According to his little pamphlet, he may well be.

Found out about the following site from an entry over at Wibbler.com.
Not really surprised by my personal results to be honest. I knew that my old party, the Lib Dems, had shifted and started losing favour with me since they became very pro-Europe and I started being a Euro-sceptic. Similarly, I wasn’t surprised to see the Conservatives and Green Party neck-and-neck for second place in my political affections.

Who should I vote for?

Your expected outcome:

Your actual outcome:

Labour -64
	Conservative 26
Liberal Democrat -2
	UK Independence Party 40
	Green 26

You should vote: UK Independence Party

UKIP’s primary focus is on Europe, where the party is strongly against joining both the EU constitution and the Euro. UKIP is also firmly in favour of limiting immigration. The party does not take a clear line on some other policy issues, but supports scrapping university tuition fees; it is strongly against income tax rises and favour reducing fuel duty.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For.

Popularity: 11% [?]